Semiconductor Device and Method of Forming the Same

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one semiconductor fin, and at least one epitaxy structure. The semiconductor fin is present on the substrate. The semiconductor fin has at least one recess thereon. The epitaxy structure is present in the recess of the semiconductor fin. The epitaxy structure includes a topmost portion, a first portion and a second portion arranged along a direction from the semiconductor fin to the substrate. The first portion has a germanium atomic percentage higher than a germanium atomic percentage of the topmost portion and a germanium atomic percentage of the second portion.

PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/570,160, filed on Sep. 13, 2019, entitled “Semiconductor Device and Method of Forming the Same,” which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/817,779, filed Nov. 20, 2017, entitled “Semiconductor Device and Method of Forming the Same,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,505,001, issued on Dec. 10, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/164,824, filed May 25, 2016, entitled “Semiconductor Device and Method of Forming the Same,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,032,873 issued on Jul. 24, 2018, which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/218,901, filed Sep. 15, 2015, which applications are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

In the race to improve transistor performance as well as reduce the size of transistors, transistors have been developed that the channel and source/drain regions are located in a fin formed from the bulk substrate. Such non-planar devices can be referred to as multiple-gate finFETs. A multiple-gate finFET may have a gate electrode that straddles across a fin-like silicon body to form a channel region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary semiconductor device according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device in FIG. 1 taken along 2-2 line.

FIG. 3 is a germanium atomic percentage profile in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a boron concentration profile in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A to 12A are cross-sectional views of a method of forming a semiconductor device at various stages in accordance with some embodiments taken along a line, such as the line parallel to a lengthwise direction of the gate structure in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5B to 12B are different cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 5A to 12A which is taken along a line, such as line 2 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the some embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

Source and drain regions of a finFET may be formed on the semiconductor fin by epitaxy growth. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide some improved epitaxy source and drain regions. These embodiments are discussed below in the context of forming the semiconductor device having a single semiconductor fin or multiple fins on a bulk silicon substrate. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with other configurations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary semiconductor device according to some embodiments. The semiconductor device includes a substrate 110. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 includes a bulk silicon substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 may be silicon in a crystalline structure. In some other embodiments, the substrate 110 may include other elementary semiconductors, such as germanium, or include a compound semiconductor, such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, indium arsenide, or indium phosphide. In yet some other embodiments, the substrate 110 includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate may be fabricated using separation by implantation of oxygen, wafer bonding, and/or other suitable methods.

The semiconductor device further includes shallow trench isolation (STI) structures 130 surrounding the semiconductor fin 120. The STI structures 130 may include any suitable insulating material, such as silicon oxide. In some embodiments, the STI structure 130 has a thickness ranging from, for example, about 30 nm to about 60 nm.

The semiconductor device 100 further includes at least one gate structure 140. The gate structure 140 is formed on a portion of the semiconductor fin 120. The gate structure 140 includes a gate dielectric layer 141 and a gate electrode layer 142. The gate dielectric layer 141 is present between the gate electrode layer 144 and the substrate 110, and is formed on the semiconductor fin 120. The gate dielectric layer 141, which prevents electron depletion, may include, for example, a high-k dielectric material such as metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates, oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconium aluminate, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments may include hafnium oxide (HfO₂), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSiO), hafnium silicon oxynitride (HfSiON), hafnium tantalum oxide (HfTaO), hafnium titanium oxide (HfTiO), hafnium zirconium oxide (HfZrO), lanthanum oxide (LaO), zirconium oxide (ZrO), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), strontium titanium oxide (SrTiO₃, STO), barium titanium oxide (BaTiO₃, BTO), barium zirconium oxide (BaZrO), hafnium lanthanum oxide (HfLaO), lanthanum silicon oxide (LaSiO), aluminum silicon oxide (AlSiO), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), oxynitrides (SiON), and combinations thereof. The gate dielectric layer 141 may have a multilayer structure such as one layer of silicon oxide (e.g., interfacial layer) and another layer of high-k material.

The gate electrode layer 142 is formed over the substrate 110 to cover the gate dielectric layer 141 and the portion of the semiconductor fin 120 covered by the gate dielectric layer 141. In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 142 includes a semiconductor material such as polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or the like. The gate electrode layer 142 may be deposited doped or undoped. For example, in some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 142 includes polysilicon deposited undoped by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). Once applied, the polysilicon may be doped with, for example, phosphorus ions (or other n-type dopants) or boron (or other p-type dopants) based on the type of the semiconductor device. The polysilicon may also be deposited, for example, by furnace deposition of an in-situ doped polysilicon. Alternatively, the gate electrode layer 142 may include a polysilicon metal alloy or a metal gate including metals such as tungsten (W), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), or any combination thereof.

The semiconductor fin 120 includes a channel region (not shown) covered and wrapped by the gate structure 140. The semiconductor fin 120 may be doped to provide a suitable channel for an n-type finFET (NMOS device) or p-type finFET (PMOS device). The semiconductor fin 120 may be doped using processes such as, ion implantation, diffusion, annealing, and/or other suitable processes.

The semiconductor device further includes a pair of spacers 150. The spacers 150 are respectively formed over the substrate 110 and adjacent to opposite sides of the gate structure 140. Portions of the semiconductor fin 120 are covered by the spacers 150. In some embodiments, the spacer 150 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or other suitable material. The spacer 150 may include a single layer or multilayer structure.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2 in FIG. 1. The semiconductor fin 120 includes at least one recess 121 between the spacers 150. The recess 121 is formed on the portions of the semiconductor fin 120 that are not covered by the spacers 150 and the gate structure 140. More particularly, a portion of the semiconductor fin 120 exposed both by the gate structure 140 and the spacers 150 is partially removed (or partially recessed) to form a recess 121 in semiconductor fin 120.

The semiconductor device further includes at least one epitaxy structure 160. The epitaxy structure 160 is formed on the semiconductor fin 120. More particularly, the epitaxy structure 160 is formed in the recess 121 of the semiconductor fin 120. In some embodiments, the semiconductor fin 120 has a topmost surface 122. The epitaxy structure 160 extends below the topmost surface 122 toward the substrate 110. In some embodiments, a plurality of epitaxy structures 160 may be epitaxially grown on the semiconductor fins 120 respectively. Because epitaxy growth includes vertical growth and horizontal growth, a portion of one epitaxy structure 160 grown from the semiconductor fin 120 eventually merges with a portion of the epitaxy structure 160 grown from the neighboring semiconductor fin 120. As such, the epitaxy structures 160 formed on different semiconductor fins 120 may be merged into a continuous epitaxy structure, which may benefit a source/drain to be formed thereon.

The epitaxy structure 160 may be formed by using one or more epitaxy or epitaxial (epi) processes, such that Si features, SiGe features, and/or other suitable features can be formed in a crystalline state on the semiconductor fin 120. In some embodiments, a lattice constant of the epitaxy structure 160 is different from a lattice constant of the channel of the semiconductor fin 120, so that the channel can be strained or stressed by the epitaxy structure 160 to improve carrier mobility of the semiconductor device and enhance the device performance.

The semiconductor device further includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer 180. The ILD layer 180 is formed on the substrate 110 to cover the epitaxy structure 160. The ILD layer 180 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbide, a low-dielectric constant dielectric material, or combinations thereof.

The semiconductor device further includes a source/drain contact 190. The source/drain contact 190 is formed through the ILD layer 180 and contacts with a top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160. In some embodiments, the source/drain contact 190 includes W, Co, Cu, Al or other suitable conductive material. As shown in FIG. 1, when the epitaxy structures 160 formed on different semiconductor fins 120 are merged into a continuous epitaxy structure, the source/drain contact 190 can be formed on these epitaxy structures 160.

In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 is a germanium-containing structure. For example, the epitaxy structure 160 may include silicon germanium. The epitaxy structure 160 may be formed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The precursors may include silicon-containing gases and germanium-containing gases, such as SiH₄ and GeH₄, respectively, and the partial pressures of the silicon-containing gases and germanium-containing gases are adjusted to modify the germanium atomic percentage and the silicon atomic percentage. In some embodiments, the resulting epitaxy structure 160 includes a topmost portion PT, a first portion P1 and a second portion P2. The top portion PT, the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 are arranged along a direction from the semiconductor fin 120 to the substrate 110. The first portion P1 has a germanium atomic percentage higher than a germanium atomic percentage of the topmost portion PT and a germanium atomic percentage of the second portion P2. In other words, both the topmost portion PT above the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 below the first portion P1 contain less germanium than the first portion P1, which may benefit the resulting epitaxy structure 160 to have a top surface 169 in a suitable size and shape, and may benefit the source/drain contact 190 formed thereon. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing germanium atomic percentage of the topmost portion PT, the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 during the epitaxy growth of the epitaxy structure 160. In some embodiments, the germanium atomic percentage may be referred to as the germanium concentration.

In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 includes a middle buried layer 161 between the first portion P1 and the second portion P2. The germanium atomic percentage of the middle buried layer 161 increases along a direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120. In other words, the germanium atomic percentage of the middle buried layer 161 increases along a direction from the second portion P2 to the first portion P1. This may benefit the top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160 to be formed in a suitable size and shape for benefiting formation of the source/drain contact 190. In some embodiments, the middle buried layer 161 is a gradient germanium-containing layer, in which the germanium atomic percentage is increasingly graded upwardly. In some embodiments, the bottommost location of the middle buried layer 161 (namely, the second portion P2) has a germanium atomic percentage ranging from about 25% to about 55%, and the germanium atomic percentage of other location of the middle buried layer 161 above the bottommost location increases upwardly. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing gradient germanium atomic percentage of the middle buried layer 161 during the epitaxy growth of the middle buried layer 161.

In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 further includes an upper buried layer 162. The upper buried layer 162 is located between the middle buried layer 161 and the topmost portion PT. The upper buried layer 162 has a germanium atomic percentage decreasing along a direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120. In other words, the germanium atomic percentage of the upper buried layer 162 decreases along a direction from the first portion P1 to the topmost portion PT. This may benefit formation of the topmost portion PT that contains less germanium than the middle buried layer 161. In some embodiments, the upper buried layer 162 is a gradient germanium-containing layer, in which the germanium atomic percentage is decreasingly graded upwardly. In some embodiments, the bottommost location of the upper buried layer 162 (namely, the first portion P1) has a germanium atomic percentage ranging from about 45% to about 55%, and the germanium atomic percentage of other location of the upper buried layer 162 above the bottommost location decreases upwardly. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing gradient germanium atomic percentage of the upper buried layer 162 during the epitaxy growth of the upper buried layer 162.

In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 further includes a topmost layer 163. The topmost portion PT is located on a topmost surface of the topmost layer 163 opposite to the underlying upper and middle buried layers 162 and 161. In other words, the upper buried layer 162 is located between the topmost layer 163 and the middle buried layer 161. The topmost layer 163 has a germanium atomic percentage lower than the germanium atomic percentage of the middle buried layer 161. The germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer 163 at least partially decreases along the direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120. In particular, the germanium atomic percentage of at least an upper portion of the topmost layer 163 decreases upwardly, which may benefit formation of the topmost portion PT that contains less germanium than other underlying location of the topmost layer 163. In some embodiments, the germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer 163 ranges from about 15% to about 25%. In some embodiments, a maximal germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer 163 is in a range between a minimal germanium atomic percentage and a maximal germanium atomic percentage of the upper buried layer 162. In other words, a lower portion of the topmost layer 163 immediately adjacent to the upper buried layer 162 may has a germanium atomic percentage that increases along the direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120 to reach the maximal germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer 163, while the germanium atomic percentage of the upper portion of the topmost layer 163 decreases along the same direction to reach the minimal germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer 163. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing germanium atomic percentage profile of the topmost layer 163 during the epitaxy growth of the topmost layer 163.

In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 further includes a lower buried layer 164. The lower buried layer 164 underlies the second portion P2. The germanium atomic percentage of the second portion P2 is in a range between a maximal germanium atomic percentage and a minimal germanium atomic percentage of the lower buried layer 164. This may benefit the top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160 to be formed in a suitable size and shape for benefiting formation of the source/drain contact 190. In other words, the germanium atomic percentage of the lower buried layer 164 is spatially various, and the maximal germanium atomic percentage thereof is higher than the germanium atomic percentage of the second portion P2, and the minimal germanium atomic percentage of the lower buried layer 164 is lower than the germanium atomic percentage of the second portion P2. In some embodiments, the germanium atomic percentage of the lower buried layer 164 ranges from about 25% to about 35%. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing germanium atomic percentage profile of the lower buried layer 164 during the epitaxy growth of the lower buried layer 164.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device further includes a doped layer 170. The doped layer 170 underlies the epitaxy structure 160. In other words, the doped layer 170 is located below the epitaxy structure 160. The epitaxy structure 160 is conformally formed on the doped layer 170. The doped layer 170 may be formed by doping a suitable p-type impurity, such as boron, into the semiconductor fin 120 through the surface of the recess 121. The doped layer 170 underlies the lower buried layer 164. The doped layer 170 has a germanium atomic percentage increasing along the direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120. In other words, the germanium atomic percentage of the doped layer 170 decreases downwardly. This may benefit the top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160 to be formed in a suitable size and shape for benefiting formation of the source/drain contact 190. In some embodiments, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the foregoing germanium atomic percentage profile of the doped layer 170 during the formation of the doped layer 170.

FIG. 3 is a germanium atomic percentage profile in accordance with some embodiments. In FIG. 3, a profile L1 is the germanium atomic percentage profile of the doped layer 170; a profile L2 is the germanium atomic percentage profile of the lower buried layer 164; a profile L3 is the germanium atomic percentage profile of the middle buried layer 161; a profile L4 is the germanium atomic percentage profile of the upper buried layer 162; and a profile L5 is the germanium atomic percentage profile of the topmost layer 163. By such an epitaxy structure 160 and doped layer 170 having such germanium atomic percentage profiles L1-L5, the top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160 can be formed in a suitable size and shape to benefit the source/drain contact 190 formed thereon. The ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the germanium atomic percentage profiles L1-L5 during the formation of the epitaxy structure 160 and doped layer 170.

The epitaxy structure 160 is doped with a suitable impurity to serve as a source region or a drain region of the semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the epitaxy structure 160 is doped with a p-type impurity, such as boron, and the boron concentration of the epitaxy structure 160 is spatially various. In other words, the boron concentration of the epitaxy structure 160 is unevenly distributed. In some embodiments, the concentration of the p-type impurity is correlated to the dose of the p-type dopant used in the implantation process, and therefore, the dose of the boron dopant may be controlled or tuned to form the spatially various boron concentration of the epitaxy structure 160. The boron-doped epitaxy structure 160 may serve as a p-type source/drain region. Therefore, the semiconductor device may serve as a p-type finFET.

In some embodiments, the boron concentration of the epitaxy structure 160 substantially increases from the doped layer 170 to the topmost layer 163. In other words, a boron concentration of the doped layer 170 is lower than a boron concentration of the lower buried layer 164. The boron concentration of the lower buried layer 164 is lower than a boron concentration of the middle buried layer 161. The boron concentration of the middle buried layer 161 is lower than a boron concentration of the upper buried layer 162. The boron concentration of the upper buried layer 162 is lower than a boron concentration of the topmost layer 163. In some embodiments, the boron concentration of the doped layer 170 oscillates along a direction from the substrate 110 to the semiconductor fin 120. For example, reference is made to FIG. 4, which is a boron concentration profile in accordance with some embodiments. In FIG. 4, a profile L6 is the boron concentration profile of the doped layer 170; a profile L7 is the boron concentration profile of the lower buried layer 164; a profile L8 is the boron concentration profile of the middle buried layer 161; a profile L9 is the boron concentration profile of the upper buried layer 162; and a profile L10 is the boron concentration profile of the topmost layer 163. By such a boron-doped epitaxy structure 160 and boron-doped layer 170 having such boron concentration profiles L6-L10, the top surface 169 of the epitaxy structure 160 can be formed in a suitable size and shape to benefit the source/drain contact 190 formed thereon. The dose of the boron dopant used in the implantation process may be controlled or tuned to implement the boron concentration profiles L6 to L10. In some embodiments, the boron concentration of the doped layer 170 ranges from about 1e17 cm⁻³ to about 1e21 cm⁻³, and the boron concentration of the lower buried layer 164 ranges from about 3e20 cm⁻³ to about 5e20 cm⁻³, and the boron concentration of the middle buried layer 161 ranges from about 6e20 cm⁻³ to about 10e20 cm⁻³, and the boron concentration of the upper buried layer 162 ranges from about 6e20 cm⁻³ to about 10e20 cm⁻³, and the boron concentration of the topmost layer 163 ranges from about 8e20 cm⁻³ to about 11e20 cm⁻³.

In some embodiments, the resulting boron-doped epitaxy structure 160 has a depth ranging from about 45 nm to about 65 nm. The top surface 169 of the resulting boron-doped epitaxy structure 160 may be higher than the topmost surface 122 of the semiconductor fin 120, and the vertical distance from the top surface 169 to the topmost surface 122 may be 5 nm. In other words, a portion of the epitaxy structure 160 is formed in excess of the recess 121, which may benefit formation of the source/drain contact 190. In some embodiments, the topmost layer 163 may have a thickness ranging from about 2.7 nm to about 7.5 nm, and a maximal width of other portion of the epitaxy structure 160 except the topmost layer 163 may range from about 35 nm to about 55 nm. This maximal width is measured along an arrangement direction of the epitaxy structures 160, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5A to 12A are cross-sectional views of a method of forming a semiconductor device at various stages in accordance with some embodiments taken along a line, such as the line parallel to a lengthwise direction of the gate structure 140 in FIG. 1. FIGS. 5B to 12B are different cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 5A to 12A which is taken along a line, such as line 2 in FIG. 1.

Reference is made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. A semiconductor fin 220 is formed in the substrate 210, and a portion of the semiconductor fin 220 is protruded from the substrate 210. The semiconductor fin 220 may be formed by, for example, patterning and etching the substrate 210 using photolithography techniques. In some embodiments, a layer of photoresist material (not shown) is deposited over the substrate 210. The layer of photoresist material is irradiated (exposed) in accordance with a desired pattern (the semiconductor fin 220 in this case) and developed to remove a portion of the photoresist material. The remaining photoresist material protects the underlying material from subsequent processing steps, such as etching. It should be noted that other masks, such as an oxide or silicon nitride mask, may also be used in the etching process.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, a plurality of STI structures 230 are formed on the substrate 210. The STI structures 230 may be formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques using tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS) and oxygen as a precursor. In some other embodiments, the STI structures 230 may be formed by implanting ions, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, or the like, into the substrate 210. In yet some other embodiments, the STI structures 230 are insulator layers of a SOI wafer.

Reference is made to FIGS. 6A and 6B. Dummy gate structures 240 are formed on portions of the semiconductor fin 220 at an interval and expose another portion of the semiconductor fin 220. The dummy gate structures 240 include polysilicon, and they can be formed by a deposition process, such as a CVD process.

Reference is made to FIGS. 7A and 7B. A dielectric layer 250 is conformally formed over the semiconductor fin 220 and the dummy gate structures 240. In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 250 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxy-nitride, or other suitable material. The dielectric layer 250 may include a single layer or multilayer structure. The dielectric layer 250 may be formed by a deposition process, such as an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, a CVD process, a PVD process or a sputter deposition process or other suitable techniques.

Reference is made to FIGS. 8A and 8B. A removal process is performed to remove portions of the dielectric layer 250 and portions of the underlying semiconductor fins 220, so that portions of the semiconductor fin 220 is exposed. This removal process may form an exposed recess 221 on each semiconductor fin 220, as shown FIG. 8B. Some remaining portions of the dielectric layer 250 serve as a pair of spacers 252 located on two opposite sides of the dummy gate structure 240, as shown in FIG. 8B. In some embodiments, the spacers 252 may be used to offset subsequently formed epitaxy structure formed in the recess 221. The spacers 252 may further be used for designing or modifying the profile of the epitaxy structure.

The removal process may be a dry etching process, a wet etching process, or combination dry and wet etching process. Removal may include a lithography process to facilitate the etching process. The lithography process may include photoresist coating (e.g., spin-on coating), soft baking, mask aligning, exposure, post-exposure baking, developing the photoresist, rinsing, drying (e.g., hard baking), other suitable processes, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the lithography process is implemented or replaced by other methods, such as maskless photolithography, electron-beam writing, and ion-beam writing. In yet some other embodiments, the lithography process could implement nanoimprint technology. In some embodiments, a pre-cleaning process may be performed to clean the recess 221 with HF or other suitable solution, which benefit the subsequent epitaxy growth.

Reference is made to FIGS. 9A and 9B. A doped layer 260 may be formed in the recess 221 of the semiconductor fin 220. The doped layer 260 is doped with a suitable p-type impurity, such as boron. For example, the doped layer 260 may be formed by doping boron into the semiconductor fin 220 through the exposed surface of the recess 221. The doped layer 260 may be formed by an in-situ doping process. The doping process may include an implantation process to implant a p-type impurity, such as boron, into the semiconductor fin 220 through the exposed surface. The doped layer 260 may have a germanium atomic percentage profile L1 as shown in FIG. 4. This germanium atomic percentage profile can be achieved by, for example, controlling the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄. The doped layer 260 may have a boron concentration profile L6 as shown in FIG. 5. This boron concentration profile can be achieved by, for example, controlling the dose of the boron dopant used in the implantation process.

Reference is made to FIGS. 10A and 10B. A plurality of epitaxy structures 270 are respectively formed in the recesses 221 of the semiconductor fins 220 and over the doped layers 260. The epitaxy structures 270 may be formed using one or more epitaxy or epitaxial (epi) processes, such that Si features, SiGe features, and/or other suitable features can be formed in a crystalline state on the semiconductor fins 220. In some embodiments, the epitaxy processes include CVD deposition techniques (e.g., vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE) and/or ultra-high vacuum CVD (UHV-CVD)), molecular beam epitaxy, and/or other suitable processes. The epitaxy process may use gaseous and/or liquid precursors, which interact with the composition of the semiconductor fins 220 (e.g., silicon).

The epitaxy structures 270 are germanium-containing structures. For example, the epitaxy structures 270 may include silicon germanium. The epitaxy structures 270 may be formed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The precursors may include silicon-containing gases and germanium-containing gases, such as SiH₄ and GeH₄, respectively, and the partial pressures of the silicon-containing gases and germanium-containing gases are adjusted to modify the germanium atomic percentage and the silicon atomic percentage. In particular, the ratio of the flow rate of the germanium-containing gas, such as GeH₄, to the flow rate of the silicon-containing gas, such as SiH₄, may be controlled or tuned to form the germanium atomic percentage profiles L2-5 as shown in FIG. 4 during the epitaxy growth of the epitaxy structures 270. Because epitaxial growth includes vertical growth and horizontal growth, a portion of one epitaxy structure 270 grown from the semiconductor fin 220 eventually merges with a portion of the epitaxy structure 270 grown from the neighboring semiconductor fin 220, in some embodiments. As such, the epitaxy structures 270 formed on different semiconductor fins 220 may be merged into a continuous epitaxy structure, which may benefit a source/drain contact to be formed thereon.

A doping process is performed to dope a suitable impurity into the epitaxy structure 270 to serve as a source region or a drain region of the semiconductor device. For example, the epitaxy structure 270 may be in-situ doped. The doping species include p-type dopants, such as boron or BF₂; n-type dopants, such as phosphorus or arsenic; and/or other suitable dopants including combinations thereof. If the epitaxy structure 270 is not in-situ doped, a second implantation process (i.e., a junction implant process) is performed to dope the epitaxy structure 270. The implantation may be performed to implant dopants into the epitaxy structure 270. One or more annealing processes may be performed to activate the epitaxy structure 270. The annealing processes include rapid thermal annealing (RTA) and/or laser annealing processes.

In some embodiments, a doping process is performed to unevenly dope boron dopants into the epitaxy structures 270, so that the boron concentration of the resulting epitaxy structures 270 is spatially various or unevenly distributed. In particular, the epitaxy structures 270 may have the boron concentration profiles L7-10 as shown in FIG. 5. For example, the dose of the boron dopants may be controlled or tuned to form the boron concentration profiles L7-10 as shown in FIG. 5 during the implantation process performed to the epitaxy structures 270. This may benefit top surfaces 271 of the epitaxy structures 270 formed in a suitable size and shape, so as to benefit the source/drain contact formed thereon.

Reference is made to FIGS. 11A and 11B. A gate last process (or replacement gate process) is performed to replace the dummy gate structures 240 by the gate structures 280. The gate structures 280 may include a gate dielectric layer 281 and a gate electrode layer 282. The gate electrode layer 282 may include a work function metal. Providing the gate structures 280 later in the process can avoid problems of the stability of the work function metal during formation of the source/drain epitaxy structure 270. The gate last process may include removing the dummy gate structures 240 by an etching process, forming the gate dielectric layer 281 by a deposition process, forming a gate electrode layer 282 by a deposition process, forming a dielectric capping layer on the gate electrode layer 282 by a deposition process, and removing undesired portions of the dielectric capping layer by a CMP process.

Before removing the dummy gate structures 240, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer 290 is formed over the eptitaxy structures 270. The ILD layer 290 includes silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbide, low-dielectric constant dielectric material or a combination thereof. The ILD layer 290 can be formed by a deposition process, such as a CVD process.

Reference is made to FIGS. 12A and 12B. A source/drain contact 300 is formed through the ILD layer 290 and contacts with the top surfaces 271 the epitaxy structures 270. Formation of the source/drain contact 300 may include forming contact holes by an etching process to etch through the ILD layer 290 down to the epitaxy structures 270 and depositing metal in the contact holes by a deposition process, such as a CVD process, to form the source/drain contacts 300.

In some embodiments, since the germanium atomic percentage profile and the p-type impurity concentration profile make the top surfaces of the epitaxy structures formed in a suitable size and shape, the source/drain contacts can be formed on the top surfaces more easily, and the contact resistance can be reduced as well.

According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one semiconductor fin, and at least one epitaxy structure. The semiconductor fin is present on the substrate. The semiconductor fin has at least one recess thereon. The epitaxy structure is present in the recess of the semiconductor fin. The epitaxy structure includes a topmost portion, a first portion and a second portion arranged along a direction from the semiconductor fin to the substrate. The first portion has a germanium atomic percentage higher than a germanium atomic percentage of the topmost portion and a germanium atomic percentage of the second portion.

According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one semiconductor fin, and at least one epitaxy structure. The semiconductor fin has at least one recess thereon. The epitaxy structure is present in the recess of the semiconductor fin. The epitaxy structure includes a topmost layer and a first gradient germanium-containing layer below the topmost layer. The first gradient germanium-containing layer has a germanium atomic percentage higher than a germanium atomic percentage of the topmost layer and increasing along a direction from the substrate to the semiconductor fin.

According to some embodiments, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming at least one semiconductor fin on a substrate, removing at least one portion of the semiconductor fin to form at least one recess, and forming at least one epitaxy structure in the recess of the semiconductor fin, wherein the epitaxy structure includes a topmost portion, a first portion and a second portion arranged along a direction from the semiconductor fin to the substrate, wherein a germanium concentration of the first portion is higher than a germanium concentration of the topmost portion and a germanium concentration of the second portion.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor fin present on a substrate, the semiconductor fin comprising a first material; and a second material different from the first material embedded within the semiconductor fin, wherein the second material has a series of concentration gradients comprising in order from a top of the second material towards a bottom of the second material a first concentration gradient, a second concentration gradient opposite the first concentration gradient, a third concentration gradient opposite the second concentration gradient, and a fourth concentration gradient opposite the third concentration gradient.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the series of concentration gradients is a series of germanium concentration gradients.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a source/drain contact in physical contact with the second material.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the source/drain contact comprises tungsten.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a doped region located between the first material and the second material.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 5, wherein the doped region comprises boron.
 7. The semiconductor device of claim 6, wherein the doped region has a boron concentration from about 1e17 cm⁻³ to about 1e21 cm⁻³.
 8. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor fin over a substrate; and a source/drain region within the semiconductor fin, the source/drain region comprising: a first portion at a first distance away from the semiconductor fin, the first portion having a first concentration of germanium; a second portion at a second distance away from the semiconductor fin, the second distance being less than the first distance, the second portion having a second concentration of germanium greater than the first concentration of germanium; and a third portion at a third distance away from the semiconductor fin, the third distance being greater than the first distance, the third portion having a third concentration of germanium greater than the first concentration of germanium.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the third concentration of germanium is between about 25%-atomic and about 55%-atomic.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the source/drain region further comprises a fourth portion at a fourth distance away from the semiconductor fin greater than the third distance, the fourth portion having a fourth concentration of germanium less than the third concentration of germanium.
 11. The semiconductor device of claim 8, further comprising a doped layer in the semiconductor fin.
 12. The semiconductor device of claim 11, further comprising a first dopant located within the doped layer, wherein the doped layer has an uneven distribution of the first dopant.
 13. The semiconductor device of claim 12, wherein the uneven distribution of the first dopant oscillates in a first direction.
 14. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the source/drain region extends outside of the semiconductor fin.
 15. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor fin over a substrate, the semiconductor fin comprising silicon; a plurality of gate stacks overlying the semiconductor fin; and a source/drain region of silicon-germanium embedded within the semiconductor fin, the source/drain region comprising a first region located in between a second region and a third region, the first region having a concentration gradient of germanium that is opposite the second region and the third region.
 16. The semiconductor device of claim 15, wherein a germanium concentration within the third region is between about 25%-atomic and about 55%-atomic.
 17. The semiconductor device of claim 15, wherein the source/drain region extends outside of the semiconductor fin.
 18. The semiconductor device of claim 15, further comprising a doped layer within the semiconductor fin.
 19. The semiconductor device of claim 18, wherein the doped layer comprises boron.
 20. The semiconductor device of claim 19, wherein a boron concentration within the doped layer is between about 1e17 cm⁻³ to about 1e21 cm⁻³. 